Tire-valve lock



Marh 12, 1929. w. J. HuRsr TIRE VALVE Locx' Filed Feb. 25, 19:27

I 'willi/,IFI

MTM 7 i Inventor Wij/M Jmr Patented Mar. l2, i929.

isolant l? Yi TIRE-VALVE LO CK.

Application ledE-ebruary v25, 1927. Serial'No. Sj'G'SG.

vThe present invention relatesto an improved tire valve lock of the kind eiiinloyed as a safety appliance to guard against unauthorized removal ot.' automobile tires, whether on the Wheel or on the spare carrier.

Briefly, the invention comprises a slidable key operated retainer mounted in a casing which is fitted over the valve stem, the retainer being such, in construction as to cooperate with the opposite l'lat'taces ot the stein in such a manner as to prevent rotary movement oi' the casing, thereby hold the casing in place on the stein so that the .casing operates as a removable lock nut to prevent the valve stem from being withdrawn through the opening in the tire rim.

Qrdinarily, a common 'torni of loc c nnt is threaded upon the stem to prevent such withdrawal. However, by reinovii p the valve stem cap and taking oil the nut, i.. rr an easy matter to withdraw the stem through the opening in the rim and to remove ythe tire. The present invention, however, operates as a novel substitute for the ordinary lock nut, and it is prevented from being rotated about the stem and removed by the novel key controlled locking means which it includes.

rIhe particular details forming the alleged novelty of the improved device will become more readily apparent from theiollowing description and drawings.l

In the drawings;

Fignre'l is a side View, showing, in dotted lines, the valve, togetherwith.fragments oit' the tire and its rim, and the novel valve re'- tainingdevice. l

Figure 2 is a view of the device, with the removable base plate off to disclose the internal construction, the lretainer being shown in locking position. l

Figurey 3 is a view like Figure 2, simply showing the retainer slid over to releasing position.V Y n Figure 4 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3, looking in Vthe direction of the arrow. p

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the details.` 4

In the drawing, the reference character A designates a portion` ol an automobile tire, -fitted on the rim B, C represents the valve, which is of ordinary construction, and D represents the removable valve cap. The improved valve retainer is represented generally by the reference character l.

The retainer comprises a substantially rectangular casing 2, (see Figure 4), which is open on one side, the open side being closed by a removable cover any appropriate manner. Mounted for rotation in one endy ofthe casing is a barrel 4, (see Figure 5) which isot semi-circular coniliguration, andwliich is hollow at its center,y

the outer end of the barrel being provided with a vkey hole 5, which is designed to per.- init passage of the head 6, ot' the key 7. Attention is directed tothe fact that this barrel is ot a length greater than the widthof .the casing, and the outer end is screw threaded, as at-S, Ato remove a removable to vcorrespond to the projections on the head.: G ot the key. In this connection, l iniglit-l state that the not-ches will vary in each device as will the shape of the key head,in oi'der that a separate key may be provided for eachkdevice. While considering the construction ofthe casing, it will be well to'note that the saine is provided on one side with plate 3, held. inplace inv an internally screw threaded neck l1, which,

when in place, abuts the rim B. On the opposite wall of the casing is a nipple 12, which is' internally screw threaded, and also eX ternally screw threaded. The external screwthreads are to accommodate the removable dust cap D. The internal threads are to engage the threads on the valve. Hence it will be seen that the casing can befturned on or olf of the valve, somewhat in the saine man-v ner as the vordinary lock nuts. However, itv

is desired to prevent removal ol" the casing by unauthorized persons. `This is accomplished in the following manner. l

A retainer 18 is slidably mounted within the casing. The retainer vis of geneii'al'blocklike form, and has snug :fitting contact with the walls of the casing. As shown in Figures 2 and 8, this block, in top plan view, or in side elevation, whichever way'it is considered, einbodies an enlarged end portion and a reduced end portion. Formed in one edge o'l the reduced portion is ya substantially VV-shaped notch 14, for cooperation with the head of the key.v Spaced inwardly from the head of this notch are two substantially semi-circular grooves for selective cooperation with a retaining pin 15, which eXtends transversely across sition represented in this ligure, the entire casing and locking means, as a unit can be rotated and removed from the valve. However, when the reduced portion 17 is slid in the direction from left to right to dispose it for cooperation with the iiat side of the valve as represented in Figure 2, the casing cannot be turned, and consequently cannot be removed. To hold this slidable retainer in place, I provide internal iiat springs 18.

In order to obtain an understanding of the operation of the invention, it is to be assumed that the device is in the position shown in Figure 3, Where it is unlocked. Gf course, it could then be rotated on or off of the valve. Assuming then that the key .7 is inserted into the key hole 5, of the rotary barrel 1, the barrel is turned `in the direction from right to left. The head of the key, iiicving in the hollow portion of the barrel, is received in the V-shaped notch 14 in the slidable retainer 13. Then, Ithe retainer can be slid over, by further rotation ofthe key to assume the position shown in Figure 2. Of course, to accomplish the sliding action, it is necessary` that the block be lifted against the actionof the springs 18. When it is in the position shown in Figure 3, the outermost groove is engaged with the-cross pin 15. Then slid over to the position shown in Figure 2, however, the innermost groove then seats itself upon this same pin 15. vWhen in Figure 2, the V-sha-ped notch '14 is located substantially over the notches in the guide plat-e 10, and consequently the head of the key can be turned through the notches in this plate and then removed through the keyhole. As before indicated, when `the retainer is in position shown in Fi gure 2, the portion 17, (see Figure 4) straddles the oppositey flat side of the va-lve.

Y Consequently, the device cannot be rotated and cannot be removed. It follows, therefore that the valve stem cannot be Apulled out through the opening in the tii'e rim. In this manner the device operates as a safety appliance. i Should an attempt be made to drive the device olf by the impact of blows from hammers or tools, the valve would become distorted and could not be removed through the opening in the rim. Y f

From the foregoing description and'drawv ings, it vwill be seen that I have provided an .of the invention will be had.

Aexceptionally novel contrivance for application upon a tire valve, to prevent unautliorized removal of the tire. It is believed that when the description is considered, in connection with the drawing, a clear understanding more lengthy description is believed unnecessary.

It is further thought that in construing the alleged novelty in this case, the device may, in its entirety be considered as a substitute for the ordinary lock nut, includinga key controlled lockingdevice, such -as may ber manipulated to either prevent rotation of the device, or to permit rotation.

Minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim: Y

1. As a new product of manufacture, a hollow casing constructed to be threadedly mounted upon the stem of a tire valve, a retainer mounted for sliding movement in the casing, said retainer being of block like forni, being provided with a AV-shaped `notch and with longitudinally spaced transversely eX- tending grooves, a pin in said casing selectively engageable with said grooves, a rotary key barrel in said casing, said key barrel being constructed to permit the head of the key to be engaged with said V-shaped notch in order to slide said retainer in said casing to permit the pin to be seated in either one of the grooves, said retainer having' an o-peni-ng for passage of the valve, said opening being constructed with enlarged and restrict-ed portions for cooperation with the opposite iiat sides of the valve. Y

2. As a new .article of manufacture, a tire valve locking device comprising a-hollo-w casing open on one side formed on opposite walls with screw threaded portions to surround the valve, a cover plate for the open side, a iblock like retainer slidably mounted within said casing, said retainer embodying an opening for passage of the va-lve,said valve including enlarged and restricted portions adapted for disposition in alignmentk with said yscrew threaded portions of the casinggva spring lin the casing cooper-able with the retainer, a rotary key barrel in the casing cooperable'with the retainer, said retainer including means whereby the key may be engaged therewith for sliding itin the casing and locking the casing to the valve or unlocking it from the valve.

In testimony whereof-I'afx my signature.

wi-LLiAM J. 'Hun-sr.

Therefore, a 

